Bible School in a Briefcase Graduation, Watamu

The graduation ceremony of the fifth class of Bible School in a Briefcase students took place this Saturday in Watamu, Kenya. Twenty-two men and women received their certificates after 200 hours of teaching and learning. In all, 151 pastors have graduated from this program and are now better equipped to fill the role of pastor that so many already held.

Students and their families march down main street
as part of their graduation celebration.
It's tradition!

A packed house!

The Class of 2013, Watamu

Evangelist  and Pasator Jason Beard, Karen "Omega" Johnson, Rev. Kelly Johnson
Leslie Mosher, Kathy Johnson

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Bible School in a Briefcase, Watamu

Corrugated iron sheets covered Pastor Tsofa’s church (a former Bible School graduate) where 22 pastors gathered for the final session of Bible School in a Briefcase. As the sun beat down on those sheets, we became increasingly thankful that this particular church had no wall on one side. Kathy finished her teaching from the morning as Kelly parked the car having delivered Karen and me from the Malindi airport.

A celebratory lunch made up of rice and fruit (is avocado a fruit?) awaited the students. No goat this year, a decision made in light of necessary adjustments to the typical class schedule. Awards to those with perfect attendance, graduation ceremony rehearsal, and we moved on to the dessert for the day…communion.

Having attended a plethora of church services in East Africa, I have such a huge appreciation for the work Kelly and Kathy do through Biblical Life Ministries. Rural pastors often receive their post by assignment from the community because they have the highest level of education. Sometimes they’re appointed simply because they love someone called Jesus. But these pastors lack basic yet fundamental theological knowledge. Often their understanding of who God is comes mixed with tribal and traditional beliefs such as witchcraft or animism.

Many pastors do, though, have a genuine longing to rightly know God and to bring others to that right understanding too. Bible School in a Briefcase makes that possible. 22 pastors having this teaching in the area of Watamu means that this whole community can be changed for Christ. That’s a huge impact. I am so thankful for the way God connected our ministries and to have a small part in influencing people for Jesus.

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The Carnivore

Every good mission trip to Africa must end with a safari and then a hardy meal; ours was no different. The Carnivore was prepared with meats of all kinds skewered tightly to sharp knives. My eye immediately wandered to the dessert menu. The tip of the skewer was placed on my plate and the meat was sawed off in small pieces so as to save room for the next through-coming meat. Pork, beef, chicken, and more all with flavors somehow familiar yet not. The food was delicious, just what we all needed. The ostrich was salty and beef-like. The crocodile was disgusting, although my distaste for seafood likely influenced my opinion. I didn’t even try the “balls” of some creature. Just couldn’t do it.

Look closely at the background.

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Amboseli National Park

Four trucks loaded with the mission team.

My lodging.

My view.

Hippos...in case you can't tell.

Secretary bird.

Here is where my camera battery died.
Thank you, Joy, for sharing your photos.

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Turtle Bay Beach Resort

Rest. Beauty. Peace. The two teams joined the Biblical Life Ministries’ board of directors at Turtle Bay Beach Resort on the coast in Malindi, Kenya. Welcomed by a warm, wet towel and a small glass of passion juice we refreshed ourselves before checking into our rooms and exploring the oceanfront. Our week of ministry and “hard living” exhausted many, I chuckle at the hard living perspective. One night of rest before returning to Nairobi was filled with beach walks, tidal pool explorations, and swimming (in the pool).

This is the rock by which the area gets its name (when the tide is in).

Sunrise. Tide is in.

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Pastor Jefwa's Church

Sunday school began with a song and I told the story of the shoes. I talked about our experience before Max’s first day of kindergarten and gave examples of how a child’s shoes don’t always reveal much about their life at home…about the hardships they may face. For example, I suggested that one five-year-old child who wears two different shoes may find herself caring for her siblings while her father tries to find work. I suggested that another child who has no shoes may put on shiny black ones just before heading off to school following morning tea. I suggested that another child who wears smart-looking sandals may have been beaten until those sandals were perfectly clean. It was sad to watch the children nod as they recognized some of their own truths in these examples.

I challenged these children to walk in the way of love (Ephesians 5:1-2) because they don’t know what life is like for other children behind their closed curtain. The simple message was well received and when shared with the adults during the church service was met with a few very loud “Amens.” Gossip is a real problem here and these people – men and women alike – appreciated the call to love one another rather than judge and gossip about them.

The pastor's boys were engrossed in reading (aloud during the sermon)
from the English children's Bible.

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Business Workshop with Pastor Ouino

Pastor Ouino, a Kilifi Bible school graduate, organized an all day business workshop for me while the rest of the group ministered in churches that Saturday. About 50 people from the business community filled his small church as worship rang out. What would corporate work be like if we could sing worship songs every day before we began? Several pastors, business men, and business women came to learn about ways to strengthen their businesses.

One of the elemental components we work on is establishing a vision for the business…a picture of the future. I wasn’t surprised to hear many of the women say they were doing their business because they want to provide food and education for their children. They’re not sewing because they love to, they’re sewing because somehow they got training and have a machine. They’re not making mandazis (deep fried pastries) because they love to cook; they’re making them because it’s all they know how to do.

I challenged these ladies to think bigger, to think about how they will change the world because of their business.  On one hand, I struggled to bring this challenge to them given their situations. One another hand, I know that if they think bigger they’ll come closer to reaching that vision which means they’d be closer to providing for those essential needs. The real challenge was helping them realize the truth of their bound mentalities. One workshop may not be enough.

Pastor Ouino has invited me to return for a three day workshop during my next visit to the Malindi area (which means I’d also get to visit Hidaja again, as she is nearby). I love how God is opening doors and am so thankful to BLM for their encouragement in this endeavor.

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A Dress for Hidaja from Maya

A pile of children surrounded me as I sat outside Pastor Newton’s small church listening to the ladies of Next Level Church deliver their Spirit-filled messages. All were happy to shake my hand or play peek-a-boo around the bent tree trunk. None, though, were interested in the photo of the small white girl except one. The one who was interested – the one who would not smile, would not talk, would not respond when asked her name – tentatively moved forward.

I motioned her toward me and she quizzically took hold of that small photo examining the front and the back of this stiff paper card. I pulled out the adorable dress that went along with the photo and held it up to this girl, a perfect fit. Hidaja (a teacher would later reveal her name) was a willing child…willing to be hoisted to my lap while she held onto that photo and examined the dress. A short time later, she even allowed me to slip the new dress over her solid frame. She clung tightly to her old dress, and to her new white-girl picture as well as to the adorable little card written to the recipient of the dress. I later had the teacher explain to her that Maya was a little girl in America who wanted to give Hidaja that dress so that she knows God loves her.

Having to leave her and the other children behind to attend to a few details, I soon found Hidaja standing next to me with her little hand in mine. And again. And again. She so refused to leave me that she wet herself (and my dress). We shared my lunch until it was time for the group to depart. This little one looked on wondering what would happen to me. Once the van door closed, this emotionless girl exploded with screams and tears until the teacher came again to comfort her. Oh why can’t I bring all these children home with me.

The van returned the next day to pick up the team speaking at Pastor Newton’s church and I hopped out once I spotted Hidaja. She came quickly to me and as I picked her up she lifted her legs around my waist and lowered her head to my shoulder. Those who hadn’t seen this girl with me the previous day stared with mouths agape. “She really loves you,” some said. And I really love her!

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Pastor Newton's Church

The women from Next Level Church ministered to the women of Lango Pentecostal Church while the men joined pastors and community leaders in door-to-door evangelism. Sadly, the enemy prevented me from participating in that my cough was exacerbated that day. Instead I made a run to the chemist’s to get some much needed Claritin D and cough medicine…which the pharmacist forced me to take before I left the shop because I was coughing so much. Good thing too, that liquid stuff is NASTY. (That medicine would eventually be swallowed by others who were fighting illness as well.) I also picked up three cases of water…must have water. Upon return, I chose a seat just outside the door and listened to the Next Level women telling their stories of encouragement to these ladies, who were so very thankful.

Lunch and fellowship was a blessing. Pastor Newton did a terrific job planning and preparing the ministry that day.

Lango Pentacostal Church

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A Dolly for Eliazar from Katie

Katie is a return dolly sponsor and this time she chose a boy. Thanks, Katie, for your love of these children.

He and his maama perched themselves at the opening of this church building that would be the doorway with their backs to the three workshops taking place. Apparently Eliazar didn’t find the teaching subject interesting enough. Rather his attention was on the white lid for some aerosol product. This lid, when pounded on the rough cement floor, made quite a clatter and that was far more interesting to this little one.

I joined his maama for a short chat and then jumped to the ground and stepped in front of the small boy. He didn’t scream. We were off to a good start. Presenting him with the doll, he was momentarily interested in this fluffy thing but quickly turned his attention to the camera in my hand. His maama pointed out that he thought the camera was a phone and wanted to talk on the phone. Silly boy. Eliazar’s non-noise-making dolly was interesting for a while until he rediscovered the white aerosol lid anew.

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